Should we speak of sadness before evoking anger and perhaps even rage? Or should we start with the immense disarray into which the Lebanese citizens and French-Lebanese binationals living in France have been plunged for almost two months, and which has led some to strengthen contacts and ties within the community in order to stay informed, organized and engaged, while others are cutting themselves off, consumed by a feeling of powerlessness?

Since September 23, the date of the escalation of the war between Israel and Hezbollah and the start of the massive bombardment of Lebanon, the Lebanese community in France (between 50,000 and 60,000 people) has been living with bated breath, eyes fixed on the Arabic news channels, WhatsApp groups and sharing relaying news from the country. The nights are short and anxious – what new bombing, what new neighborhood, what new catastrophe? – the days are interspersed with messages from Beirut and the southern regions where some families live. There are also Instagram alerts: Here, in the Paris region, a clothing drive is taking place for displaced persons in Lebanon; there, money can be sent to Beirut schools transformed into shelters.

"My first instinct in the morning is to call my brother in Beirut," said Jocelyne Moubarak, who came to France in 1996 to study political science, and has not left since. "I can't help it. At the beginning of September, I was fascinated by the ups and downs of French politics. In the space of a few hours, all I could think about was Lebanon. I'm surprised by it myself." This war, she said, has brought back anxiety, trauma and so many painful images. "It's a return to childhood and a reminder of what Lebanon failed to do. The link I thought had loosened with my native country is proving visceral. I never thought it would hurt so much."

That's also what Maria Nehme, 34, who came to France after her baccalaureate, and whose family has stayed behind in Lebanon, said. "It's so hard to experience something like this from a distance! I feel for Lebanon. My roots are there. It's fundamental. But what can I do? I live in a state of mad anxiety, saddened at my powerlessness. I frantically ask for information, I phone, and even if my family seems safe, we all have friends or friends of friends who have been affected, displaced or killed. I'd really like to help! And I'd like to hear more about this war in France. But it's very complicated to talk about it here. It's a hot topic, and you have to be very careful. Who here feels the real tragedy of Lebanon?"

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